In many buildings, there is a need to channel pedestrian traffic towards significant landmarks, such as exits, check-in desks, escalators and common passageways. This is particularly important in premises with large, open areas such as those found in airports, shopping malls, hospitals and many large offices. Plants offer an attractive and practical solution, providing a living barrier that gently guides people to where you ant them to go.

Choosing the right plants and containers for this purpose is very important. Silky plants or those with sharp edged leaves would clearly be inappropriate in an area designed for heavy pedestrian traffic flow. Containers need to be robust, while always considering floor space and in some situations, be linkable to form an impenetrable wall.

Plants can act as signposts for specific facilities such as restrooms, elevators or changing rooms. Finding that elusive restroom in a large building may be much easier if you’re told “nest to the large palm in the blue pot.’’

Plants can also be used to differentiate parts of a building from each other, for example, by planting each floor or wing with a different plant species. A building could have, say, desert-loving plants in one area, jungle plants in another, temperate species in a third and so on. The possibilities are almost endless.

Design with energy consciousness in mind has garnered the Genzyme Corporation, building, known as Genzyme Center, in Cambridge Mass., much acclaim for being among the most environmentally conscious buildings in the nation.. The 12-story, 350,000-square-foot building features 18 indoor gardens with plants from all over the world.

Genzyme is seeking the highest possible rating (Platinum) for its center from the U.S. Green building Council. With the Platinum designation, Genzyme Center would become the first commercial office building ever to earn the rating under the Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Green Building Rating System.